Venice Italy Accommodation: Guesthouse Ponte Chiodo Review

A reader asked the following questions about Ponte Chiodo, my favorite Venice accommodation.

Good morning.  I hope all is well.  My wife and I are taking her mom to Italy in February, March 2012 for her 60th birthday.  I am in love with Ponte Chiodo.  It seems like a very nice place, and it really seems the views of the canal will help make Venice a truly memorable experience for her. It also seems that there are plenty of Venice things to do close by. I have a few questions if I may:

1. Mattia recommended the double superior room on the first floor for my mother-in-law.  Which room would you recommend for my wife and I?  Size doesn’t necessarily matter for us, so we were drawn to the garden view you recommended.  Which floor was this on?  Does it have a double bed?  Was the bathroom en suite?

2. Speaking of beds, how are the beds?  Are they comfortable?  Are they comparable to what we consider Queen size here in the States?

3. My mom-in-law has MS.  She is still able to get around, but she has her days where she has a little less energy and may be a litle more inclined to take it easy one day (all the more reason for staying here; when she wants to sit and relax, she still has a wonderful view).  I noticed that Ponte Chiodo may be a little further away from the sites.  In your opinion, is Ponte Chiodo still a good option for us?

Let me know your thoughts if you are willing and able.

Thanks so much!
Brad

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Hi Brad,

You will love Ponte Chiodo. My husband and I can’t wait to go back.

1. The garden view room we stayed in was on what we would call the third floor (Italians call it the second floor because they don’t count the ground floor).

I really liked the room because for 30 euros a night less than the canal facing room you still got a room that is bright, nicely decorated, high ceilings, nice view, and the nicest ensuite bathroom of all the rooms at Ponte Chiodo (the bathroom was bigger than others, and also had a nice big window. The bathrooms in the canal facing rooms are interior to the building, so do not have natural light).

Having said that, be aware that it is a very narrow room. I would estimate that it is 7 feet wide by 12 feet long (not including the ensuite bathroom). Once you put your luggage on the floor you have very little space to walk around.

The width of the queen size bed takes up nearly the entire width of the room (you have just a sliver of space to get off the bed). And from the foot of the bed to the bureau at the other end of the room there is only about three feet of walking space (see photo).

Mattia warned me that it was a very small room. I was expecting a dark garret or closet, so was pleasantly surprised and delighted with the charm of the room.

I would have no problem choosing the garden facing room again, since I have already had the experience of staying in a canal facing room.

By the way, in case you were wondering…canal facing rooms are just as quiet as garden facing rooms.

MY ADVICE: Since this is your mother-in-law’s 60th birthday and you don’t know if she’ll ever get to Venice again, my advice would be to choose a canal facing room, because it is the ultimate Venice experience to open your shutters in the morning and look down at the canal and all the local life that happens around it.

2. The beds are extremely comfortable. In Europe they push two twin beds together to make a queen. Very strange but that’s just how they do it. We slept very well at Ponte Chiodo.

3. Your mother-in-law will have plenty to do even if she doesn’t want to venture far from Ponte Chiodo. Within a three minute walk is a neighbourhood shopping street, with a beautiful array of shops, restaurants, bakeries, etc. The only thing that may be a problem for her is the little bridge that she will have to cross to get there. It has about 5 steps up and then down. She could also walk in the other direction which, as I recall, is completely level right out to the sea. Everything is beautiful and charming and she will love it!

As far as getting to the major sights, you are a 5 minute walk from the Ca’Doro vaporetto (water bus) stop. You just hop on it and then get off at any of the major sights.

There is a restaurant very near Ponte Chiodo (maybe 3 minute walk) that served the very best pasta that we have ever had. I think it is called Restaurant Ca’Doro but the locals know it by another name. I can look it up if you like.

For more information or to make a booking enquiry, go to Guesthouse Ponte Chiodo.